Unfortunately, they are also the most
endangered and threatened by humans. They are hunted for meat and leather.
Their eggs are taken for food, often for their aphrodisiac properties. Their
nesting sites are given over for development. They end up being crushed by
dredges, run over by pleasure boats, poisoned by pollution, strangled by
trash and drowned by fishing lines and nets. The Philippines has one of the
world’s protected habitats and sanctuaries of the endangered marine
turtle. They are called, appropriately enough, the Turtle Islands, a group
of nine islands along the border with Malaysia that used to be a favored
weekend destination of the British colonialists and residents of the old
North Borneo (now Sabah). Six of the islands--Baguan, Taganak, Lihiman, Boan,
Langaan and the Great Bakkungan belong to the Philippines while three--Gulisaan,
Selingan and Bakkugan Kechil--are owned by Malaysia. There are only eight
known species of marine turtles. Five of them can be found in the
Philippines, mostly in the Turtle Islands. These are the Green Sea (known
scientifically as Chelonia mydas); Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata);
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and
Leatherback (Dermocheyls coriacea). The three other species are Kemp’s
Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), Flatback (Chelonia depressa) and Black Sea (Chelonia
agassizi).

Endangered speciesAll eight species are listed under
Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which means the trade of these species and
subspecies is strictly ’’prohibited except for educational, scientific
or research and study purposes.’’ The Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) has also classified the eight as endangered. That is,
’’their population is in danger of extinction and whose survival is
unlikely if the causal factors continue to operate.’’ Despite sincere
efforts by the government and environmentalists to prevent the destruction
of the marine turtle population, the gathering of turtle eggs and trading of
stuffed turtles in souvenir shops continue unabated. ’’Conservation of
marine turtles should be the concern of all Filipinos. As a citizen, you can
do your part in discouraging the sale, collection, or the killing of sea
turtles by not buying these or products made from turtles,’’ says a
Filipino environmentalist.